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Ongoing Events & Groups

The Dharma Center offers practice programs and kalyana mitta (spiritual friends) groups  that are open to those with particular affinities, such as specific age groups or identities.

The following programs are offered on the basis of dana, a practice of mutual generosity that has been alive since the time of the Buddha.

There is no fee for participating in these programs. (There are, however, fees for daylong retreats and classes—as well as ample scholarships.) We invite our practitioners to offer a donation in the baskets by the door to the meditation hall. You may also use our online donation system.

“We pay attention with respect and interest, so we may understand what is true. And seeing what is true, the heart becomes free.”

-Shunryu Suzuki

Regular Weekly and Monthly Groups

Monday Evening Sitting Meditation & Dharma Talk
Our Monday night sit is the Dharma Center’s most popular offering. After a short period of announcements, there is a 25- to 30-minute sitting meditation, followed by a dharma talk offered by a member of our Dharma Council or a guest speaker. This program is typically offered in person and online.
Time: Every Monday, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Thursday Evening Sitting Meditation & Short Reading
Our Thursday night sit includes a 45-minute sitting meditation and, occasionally, a reading offered by a senior student. This program is typically quieter than the Monday night sit and is currently held in person only.
Time: Every Thursday, 5:30 – 6:15 p.m.

Sati Sundays
Sati is the word for mindfulness in Pali, the language of the Buddha. This Sunday morning program (held in person and online) includes a 45-minute sitting meditation, readings on Buddhist topics, and discussion. Katherine Barr, one of our community dharma elders, facilitates our Sati Sundays. She can be reached at or 970-769-3417 for any questions.
Time: Second and Fourth Sundays, 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. (Occasionally daylong or weekend retreats are held on Sundays instead of this offering. Please double-check our calendar.)

People of Color Sangha
The People of Color Sangha is a group at the Dharma Center that welcomes anyone identifying as a person of color to gather together in sangha. Sangha is the ancient Pali word for community—community connected by a shared intention to explore and deepen in the Buddhist-based practices of mindfulness, wisdom, and compassion. By practicing together and honoring our shared experience in a safe and welcoming space, we have the opportunity to cultivate this spiritual path and explore how these powerful teachings of the heart relate to our everyday lives and lived experience. This group’s meetings include a meditation and dharma discussion facilitated by Yong Oh. Our group is currently not meeting until further notice. Thank you.

Sitting with Peace: An Open Meditation Period
We invite meditators of all experience levels to participate in Sitting with Peace, an hour-long peer-led sitting meditation session every Friday from 12-1. This gathering provides an opportunity for participants to deepen their practice by engaging with the sources and manifestations of suffering and discord in the world. The meditation will not be formally guided. Rather, the invitation is to sit with the awareness that “looking deeply at the nature of suffering can help us develop understanding and compassion, [thus] we are determined to come home to ourselves, to recognize, accept, embrace, and listen to suffering with the energy of mindfulness” (Thich Nhat Hanh, Interbeing, 39). This program is offered in person only. If you would like to sit for a shorter period of time, arriving late or leaving early, we welcome you to enter and depart quietly. If you have questions, please reach out to Lucy McGuffey at
Time: Every Friday, 12:00 – 1:00

Morning Serenity
This program is designed for meditators who wish to practice in longer periods of silence. This small group does a sitting meditation for 30 minutes, walking meditation for 15 minutes, and sitting meditation for another 30 minutes. It is offered in person only.
Time: First and third Wednesdays of the month at 8:00 a.m. Please check the calendar for updates.

Spiritual Friends (Kalyana Mitta) Groups

The Buddha greatly emphasized the importance of spiritual friendship in supporting our spiritual development. In spiritual friends (kalyana mitta) groups, practitioners come together to study a particular topic or in support and friendship around common life experiences such as age groups or other identities. The groups offer a beautiful opportunity to practice more deeply together. The Dharma Center’s kalyana mitta groups are typically led by peer facilitators, and facilitators are mentored by a member of the Dharma Council.

Senior Generation Group (Sen Gen)
The Sen Gen group is open to all spiritual friends ages 60 years or older with an interest in learning and contributing to discussions about the “three heavenly messengers” of aging, illness, and death. Topics range from aging well to passing on legacies and planning for death with worst- and best-case scenarios. The safety and security of the group allows practitioners to contemplate these and other topics with clarity and depth. The group uses discussion, working in dyads/triads, and journaling. A dozen facilitators take turns organizing and moderating the sessions, and the group is mentored by Katherine Barr. For more information or to join the Sen Gen email list, please contact Nan Braum at or Ana Zeiler at You may join in person or online. Time: Second and Fourth Tuesdays of the month, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. There are no meetings in August.

Middle Generation Group (Mid Gen)
Our Mid Gen group is open to anyone who identifies as being “midlife,” regardless of specific age. (If you feel too old for Next Gen and too young for Sen Gen, Mid Gen is for you!) This group practices a brief sitting meditation followed by explorations of spiritual practice and navigating this unique stage of life. Each meeting begins with a different topic or theme. For more information or to join the Mid Gen email list, please contact .

Next Generation Mindfulness Group (Next Gen)
Next Gen is a group for people in their 20s and 30s. All people who identify as being in a younger phase of adulthood are welcome, regardless of age. The group format currently includes a meditation and a discussion on a relevant Buddhist topic—and, occasionally, a potluck or a mindful hike. Please check the calendar for details. This group currently meets in person only. Time: 6:00-7:00 p.m. on select Tuesdays. Please click below to check our upcoming meetings.